De Land Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

De Land, Florida 32724
Sunday, September 29, 2002 9:26 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that after returning to the departure airport, he entered the traffic pattern for runway 30 (announcing all positions), and noticed a Cessna 172 taxied onto the approach end of runway 30. He continued the downwind leg, turned base, and observed the Cessna 172 was still on the runway. He turned final approach and observed that the Cessna 172 was starting the takeoff roll. He slowed the airplane, and later reported there was a slight crosswind from the right. He touched down first on the right main landing gear, and reported experiencing a blast of air from the right. The airplane then bounced and weather vaned to the right. He then overcorrected with aileron input causing the left wingtip to contact the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to rest heading 030 degrees; the right main landing gear was collapsed and the left main landing gear was separated. The pilot reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the right wingtip contacted the runway. Additionally, the pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he should have performed a go-around rather than be in close proximity to the departing Cessna 172 airplane at the point of touchdown.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the flare/touchdown resulting in substantial damage. A factor in the accident was the poor in-flight planning decision by the pilot for his continuing the approach in close proximity to a departing airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/29/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 926
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City De Land
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32724
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 290401N
Event Location Longitude 0811702W
Event Location Airport De Land Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KDED
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 79
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 63
Weather Observation Facility ID KDAB
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12618
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Sep 29 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1001
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 16 2003 4:27PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando, Florida

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1441Z
NTSB Number MIA02LA172
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ronald Levee
Aircraft Model Kitfox IV
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1441
Certified Max Gross Weight 1050
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 160
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ronald F. Levee
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1800 Redwood Grove Terrace
Aircraft Owner City Lake Mary
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32746
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KDED
Departure City De Land
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 845
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KDED
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Nov 6 2002 10:23AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --